Rick Rizzs

*School Southern Illinois University

• High School Eisenhower High School (Blue Island)

• Born November 17, 1954

Biographical Information

Rick Rizzs is a play-by-play broadcaster and color commentator for Seattle Mariners radio broadcasts. Before joining the M's in 1983, he broadcast eight years of minor league ball.

In 1992, he left the Mariners to be the #1 broadcaster for the Detroit Tigers, replacing Hall of Famer Ernie Harwell, who was forced into retirement by ownership. Prior to his hiring, Rizzs told Harwell "I feel sorry for whoever has to replace you." Harwell suggested that Rizzs apply for the job, which he got. The relationship was doomed from the start as Harwell was wildly popular with the fans, who demanded his return. After Rizzs' contract expired in 1994, he wasn't renewed and returned to the Mariners.

From 1995 to 2006, Rizzs was the play-by-play announcer for both radio and television. He now exclusively works radio broadcasts.

Rizzs grew up on the south side of Chicago and idolized Jack Brickhouse. At age 12, Rizzs wrote Brickhouse a letter stating that he wanted to be an announcer. Brickhouse wrote a reply advising him to follow his dream and get a good education. At Rizzs' first spring training with the Seattle Mariners in 1983, at a game in Mesa against the Chicago Cubs, Brickhouse -- now retired -- happened to be at that game and visited the M's press box. Rizzs told Brickhous about the letter and Brickouse gave him a big hug as a congratulations.

Rizzs was in attendance at the game in which Lou Brock broke the single season stolen base record in 1974 as a "19-year-old college kid." He carried the ticket stub from that game with him for the next ten years until he met Brock at an event, where Brock signed the ticket stub.

He played baseball for two years at Southern Illinois University on the junior varsity team.

His family name is shortened from Rizzitiello, which his grandfather changed to Rizzs when he arrived in the United States from Italy.

Related Sites

Video interview with Rick Rizzs